Wednesday, 23 April 2014

Well… my gardenwatch assistants have told me that... a mouse is very likely to be having a grand old time of it helping itself to the food in Hedgehog Manor (my hedgehog feeding station with IR cam). My assistants have also told me that I can expect at least two different hedgehogs dining at Hedgehog Manor tonight on crushed unsalted peanuts, sunflower hearts, dried mealworms and sultanas - word is getting around it seems ;-)

Opening up a new clear garden access point will help hedgehogs find the food and dish of water I put out for them which is brilliant. I'll get Mr Bushnell out checking this spot for garden arrivals soon. It's ever so handy having night gardenwatch assistants - fun too! But what else is going on in my garden tonight? Here are a few clues...

Yes, I'm guessing nesting material. I'm also guessing that YOU are getting early to take the early-bird-gets-the-worm (or in this case, the nesting materials) watch!!! :-)Hope you will share the results!

Lisa, you are absolutely right on the material, but it was the final layer! There wasn’t a night visitor as such but since the beginning of the nest build in our cam box the female hasn’t roosted there. Last night ( I do believe) she returned to lay her first egg in the morning. She's in again tonight :-D

Shady, Yep, right again! Ha-ha… the early bird to watch the first egg of the season being laid in our nestcam box. I have shared as much as I can in my next post – please do return to see more :-)

Sue, so am I – looking for proof that is ;-) How is your nestcam box doing? Have you seen any nest building this year?

Suizie, again, correct on the nesting material and yes I wanted to catch footage (seen in next post) of the soft material being taken but I was switching the PC on to see an egg being laid! No proof, but I do believe we have one. Ah… never thinking of herring gulls building nests but of course they will do. I’m a bit worried a woodpigeon is considering nest building at the top of my pergola. Although this would be interesting to watch, it is right in the middle of my garden where we walk through and they wouldn’t get peace there – it’s en route to my washing dryer. She hasn’t been spotted back at this spot but I can’t see this area from my gardenwatching window and I can’t watch my garden 24/7 despite all my assistants ;-)

OSPREY WEBCAM Loch of Lowes

GARDEN VISITS, WALK WITH ME...

GARDEN BIRD VIDEOS, COME SEE WHO CATCHES MY EYE...

I’ve noticed Sparrowhawks appear in the garden during wind and rain. To see my more regular visitors they are hiding behind the handsome chap above – just click on his photo :-)

BLUE TIT NESTBOX DIARY 2010

Six eggs, two attentive parents, hundreds of caterpillars, insects & live mealworms. Result… six chicks successfully fledge! Click on photo link above to follow their story through chat, photos & video.

WHERE IN THE WORLD AM I?

My small garden is in Perthshire, Scotland. I don’t have salmon in my pond, red deer in my borders, ospreys nesting in my acers or red squirrels at my peanut feeders! Nor do I have the world’s highest hedge, paths exciting enough for the serious cyclist and enough of a lawn for golf! However, Perthshire does plus many beautiful gardens too… follow the photo link above to see :-) Update Nov 2016 - Fantastic news, red squirrels now visiting feeders!